MARK-IT
The Spalding & District Civic Society, in collaboration with Transported, commissioned a new art trail in 2025 called MARK-IT, which features inspiring animal sculptures themed around the town’s historical markets.
Artist
Graeme Mitcheson has been creating stone sculpture since graduating from Loughborough College of Art in 1995. He undertakes a wide variety of work including major public art sculpture, smaller private commissions, memorials and letter-cutting work. Graeme has work sited in the public realm all over the UK including sculptures in Belfast, Northumberland, North and South Qales. Graeme also runs stone carving courses and workshops in schools.
These artworks were strategically placed in streets traditionally used for animal sales, Sheep Market for sheep and New Road for cattle, aiming to revitalize these areas and celebrate South Holland’s significant contribution to the nation’s food supply.
By reintroducing representations of sheep and cattle, (and hopefully one day other livestock such as pigs, horses, and poultry) into the town centre through sculptures and other artwork, the initiative has not only beautified the town but also aims to attract visitors, potentially boosting local tourism and foot traffic.
The project built of previous collaborations between the Spalding Civic and District Society and Transported such as The Hiring statue in Hall Place and the Spalding Trail: A Portrait of a Town.
Spalding’s history was intertwined with its weekly livestock markets, which once drew farmers and traders from across the region. The MARK-IT Trail brought this history to life with sculptures based on the iconic Lincolnshire Long Wool sheep and Lincoln Red cattle—breeds synonymous with the town’s agricultural identity.
2025 saw the first phase of animal sculptures installed in the town, starting with six white Cadeby Limestone figures, while the New Road cattle sculptures featured a bull and cow, each carved from red sandstone. Together, they weighed over 12 tonnes, making for an impressive sight…
After an open submission, sculptor Graeme Mitcheson was selected for the commission.
The sculptures of Lincoln Red cattle were modelled on real animals, thanks to the generosity of Scott Thompson, a Lincolnshire Reds breeder, Graeme was able, observe the herd and select the muses:
- Heifer – 3-year-old La Mary Fontaine (pictured to the right)
- Bull – 10-year-old Walmer Talent (pictured below)
The statues installed by JRH Services and were unveiled in a public celebration on Saturday 15th March, with speeches and unveilings by representatives of Spalding & District Civic Society, Graeme Mitcheson, Sir John Hayes, South Holland District Council Chairman Andrew Woolf, and Coun Jan Whitbourn.
As well as the unveilings, he town centre had a wonderfully positive atmosphere, with children, parents, and grandparents alike taking part in our needle felting and stone painting activities. You explore photos of the day taken by Faye Parker in the gallery below,
You are welcome to sit on the sheep and take a picture, they have designed with the intent that people interact with them. As a precaution, the sculptures have been finished in anti-graffiti coating.
New Road (Spalding)
You can find out more about the project here: https://www.spaldingcivicsociety.org.uk/projects-campaigns/spalding-mark-it-trail/
The creation of the sculptures and the first few months of stone carving workshops under Graeme’s tuition was made possible thanks to a combination of funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and substantial private donations to the Society. Thank you to the Lincoln Red Cattle Society for their encouragement.
As a Creative People & Places Programme, Transported’s key ethos is that an public art intervention is created with the people in the place that it will be sited, fostering connection, sense of pride and where possible, uplifting creative skills in the community.
Our ambition for these new landmarks in the town is that the public would also have opportunity to try the skills used to create them.
Graeme was selected for the commission not only because of his sculpture designs, but also for his experience in leading workshops. After minimal promotion, we have been blown away by the success of the stone carving workshops.
Initially only intended to run for a few months, because of not only the incredible work being made by first time carvers, the good fortune of finding a perfect venue in Tonic 44 with it’s refreshments and outdoor area complete with views, but also the fantastic enthusiasm and positive attitude of the participants, we couldn’t let them end and decided to extend them.
We’ve held celebrations of the work created by showcasing the stone in the Spalding High Street, held Q&A sessions with Graeme and now we will keep working with the carvers, with Graeme on occasion, to enhance the skillsets further so members can guide one another too, and provide public art opportunities so the group can put their own creative legacy in the area.
The Surfleet Stone Carving takes place on a Wednesday and Friday at Tonic 44 Community Hub.